Jotham's parable
To provide you with some context, this parable was told by Jotham in protest of the coronation of his evil half-brother, Abimelech, who had killed almost all his other half-brothers in a bid for the throne.
This insightful parable captures my thoughts on leadership perfectly. Leaders are supposed to be servants, but the best servants often take so much pleasure in humbly and quietly serving others that they tend to avoid the limelight and power of leadership positions. Doesn't this call into question the real motivations of leaders and politicians? Hmm.
"Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.
First they said to the olive tree,
‘Be our king!’
But the olive tree refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the olive oil
that blesses both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
First they said to the olive tree,
‘Be our king!’
But the olive tree refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the olive oil
that blesses both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
“Then they said to the fig tree,
‘You be our king!’
But the fig tree also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
‘You be our king!’
But the fig tree also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
“Then they said to the grapevine,
‘You be our king!’
But the grapevine also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the wine
that cheers both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
‘You be our king!’
But the grapevine also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the wine
that cheers both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
“Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,
‘Come, you be our king!’
And the thornbush replied to the trees,
‘If you truly want to make me your king,
come and take shelter in my shade.
If not, let fire come out from me
and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
‘Come, you be our king!’
And the thornbush replied to the trees,
‘If you truly want to make me your king,
come and take shelter in my shade.
If not, let fire come out from me
and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
[Judges 9:8-15, NLT]
This insightful parable captures my thoughts on leadership perfectly. Leaders are supposed to be servants, but the best servants often take so much pleasure in humbly and quietly serving others that they tend to avoid the limelight and power of leadership positions. Doesn't this call into question the real motivations of leaders and politicians? Hmm.
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